The joy of alcohol on planes

[NinnyPoo]

After reading the epic report on Dom Perignon consumption from LAX to BKK

8 bottles of Dom from LAX-BKK on SQ in F - FlyerTalk Forums

I have sometimes contemplated a mini version of such a trip.

When travelling on planes, how much do people drink? I am talking responsible drinking and not being so drunk you disturb other passengers or even get arrested.

For myself, I tend to only drink when in business class, not economy and have 4 to 6 drinks on a 4 hour flight. I find a 4 to 8 hour flight the optimum length for the "glow" of consumption without the horrendous 30000 ft hangover.

Personally I am a fan of Tattinger on SQ.

if you disagree with any drinking on flights, I suggest this is not the forum to comment on.

 

[slc767338]

Generally on short domestic flights I'll possibly have a glass or two of red or white depending on time of flight, and even then usually only when travelling in premium cabins. On longer flights (trans-con) I'll dowse my sorrows throughout the flight with maybe one an hour? Obviously excluding red-eye, when anything with caffeine in will do.

On internationals I will usually stagger the drinking to two or three before takeoff/after takeoff service, and usually won't touch another until the top of drop service. This is all assuming that this travel is up front. I won't touch the cough they give you in whY .

Taittinger is delightful when it's offered and I will dowse myself with it regardless of the above.

 

[mooingchicken]

I generally have a few drinks to relax, try and 'rest' a little after all im on holidays.
2-3 an hour, for the first 1 or 2 and then either stop or taper off from there,
I think about what time i will be arriving in my destination, and effects of time zone changes. Ie dont want to arrive somewhere drunk after a long overnight flight when its 8-10 in the morning and you are trying to stay awake for the rest of the day after little to no sleep. If it was a daytime flight to say bali and arriving at afternoon/night and going straight out, I would drink a few more.

Ive found SQ can be "limited" in there drinks (albit ive only flown econ so im sure alot more goes in F & J) and mentioned if they think you have had a couple they might even deny boarding of connections.
I was traveling bne to sin as a group of 10 but we were split into groups of 2, 4 and 4 a few rows away, so FA's wouldnt of know we were together. Two of my friends got "cut off" (ie highly suggested to slow down) after about 5 drinks over approx 2-2.5 hours (inc meal service) but they were not being loud or the likes but because it was 4 guys together (2 wernt really drinking) they probably senced possible trouble.

I on the other hand (group of 2) had a similar amount and no mention of anything and FA's were happy to refill. Even when I walked around the back of the plane (Can never sleep on planes on the way to start a holiday) and had a little chat. My friend then came and then she relised we were together and the FA I was just talking to mentioned she told them to slow down, then offered me another drink in the same sentence. She did ask me to fill out there customer performace/FA review survey towards the end of the flight haha

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't buy the story in FT!

Using this link: R U Pissed? - Online Breathalyzer Test and Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Level Calculator - Hangover Cures 8 bottles in 32 hours gives a blood alcohol of .582 - the person is dead!

The story makes an 'assumption' around the number of glasses, and probably miscalculates the number of glasses per bottle (the writer claims just 5 glasses per bottle).

 

[boomy]

On night flights I usually have a few glasses of champagne followed by red with dinner and go to sleep.
On day flights I have no problem drinking all the way to my destination. Recently on SYD-BKK I had to share the Dom with others but at least had the whole bottle of Blue Label all to myself

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I don't buy the story in FT!

Me neither - bah humbug I cry!

 

[NinnyPoo]

I don't buy the story in FT!

MEL_Traveller whether the story is 100% factual is not that relevant.. It is a great piece on the joys of champagne in first class.

But if you analyse his drinking, he had 8 bottles over 32 hours. 8 bottles = 64 UNITS of alcohol. Back in 1989, David Boon was alleged to have had 52 cans of beer to London. That is 52 * 1.6 units of alcohol = 83.2 UNITS. Assume that would be over 24 hours traveling to London. I would argue it is possible.

Importantly it is the pleasure obtained, which is the basis of the thread. I can obtain pleasure just from reading the 8 bottles of Dom story.

Bottoms up people!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't buy the story in FT!

MEL_Traveller whether the story is 100% factual is not that relevant.. It is a great piece on the joys of champagne in first class.

But if you analyse his drinking, he had 8 bottles over 32 hours. 8 bottles = 64 UNITS of alcohol. Back in 1989, David Boon was alleged to have had 52 cans of beer to London. That is 52 * 1.6 units of alcohol = 83.2 UNITS. Assume that would be over 24 hours traveling to London. I would argue it is possible.

Importantly it is the pleasure obtained, which is the basis of the thread. I can obtain pleasure just from reading the 8 bottles of Dom story.

Bottoms up people!

While I enjoy alcohol, and am never one to be known to turn down a drink (or two or three), binge drinking is a major problem in society.

I would not drink 8 bottles at home in 32 hours, so why would I on a plane?

I odn't see there being any pleasure, or need to reward someone for drinking that quantity?

 

[slc767338]

While I enjoy alcohol, and am never one to be known to turn down a drink (or two or three), binge drinking is a major problem in society.

I would not drink 8 bottles at home in 32 hours, so why would I on a plane?

I odn't see there being any pleasure, or need to reward someone for drinking that quantity?

As mentioned in the FT thread, it's more rewarding the Joire-de-Vivre.

I also quote the OP

if you disagree with any drinking on flights, I suggest this is not the forum to comment on.

 

[amaroo]

After reading the epic report on Dom Perignon consumption from LAX to BKK

8 bottles of Dom from LAX-BKK on SQ in F - FlyerTalk Forums

This was one of the first TR's I read on FT/AFF ... brilliant! One of my favourites.

 

[JohnK]

I'll have 2-3 drinks on short domestic hops.

For international flights it would depend on my mood but generally ~4-6 drinks is more than enough for a ~7-9 hour flight if I stay awake.

 

[SamR]

Domestic, I'll have a glass or two if with a meal, or if it's a PM flight on a Friday afternoon after a long week. International in J... I'll let you know after Tuesday.

 

[snabbu]

If I'm on a plane I don't drink any more or less than if I'm not.

 

[puppysparkes]

If I'm on a plane I don't drink any more or less than if I'm not.

Depends on my mood OP. 100%of my flying is in J or whY for recreational purposes. Therefore I usually have a few drinks. I have a few memorable experiences. Firstly BNE-CNS. CSM continued to refill my glass after a hectic work week. I could've said stop, I didn't. No verbal or non verbal communication required or offered. I was sufficiently lubricated upon arrival into CNS. Secondly was BNE-AKL on ?QF 126. Newbie stewardess was very friendly and efficient with food and drink service. Thirdly QF51 BNE-SIN, CSM ensured we had billicart champagne in row 43A,C for most of the flight. I showed restraint and switched to boags light at some stage.

We are in J on EK metal SYD-AKL-BNE over christmas. I may update the thread accordingly. Obligatory bar shot for AFF as per AFF requirements.

 

[RooFlyer]

Usually in J. Before I hit 50, on long haul I used to have more than a couple to pass the time, get 'comfortably numb' and to nod off. These days, I'm flying more but watch the timing of the couple of glasses of wine or champagne I have, as I don't want any interference with sleeping aids or dehydration affecting sleep.

On medium haul (3 to 4 hours) I'm happy with as many G&Ts as is discrete!

 

[JessicaTam]

I believe I have been on four flights where the plane has run out of bubbles. I may have been partly responsible in each case (but never wholly)!

 

[JessicaTam]

Me neither - bah humbug I cry!

A 240 kt headwind sounds a bit far fetched too.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Perhaps related to another thread here on AFF (what do passengers expect by class of service and status)... do we afford the same pedestal as 8-bottle-dom-first-class passenger to teenage bogan boasting on facebook about downing 20 beers on a flight from Bali to Adelaide via Darwin? I suspect the latter would draw comments along the line of 'irresponsible' but if you're in first class that's all ok and let's throw another shrimp on the barbie for you! The first class passenger is no less likely to be a risk for the aircraft diverting, or less likely to be a danger to fellow passengers in the event of an emergency.

 

[serfty]

A 240 kt headwind sounds a bit far fetched too.

Such is not far fetched - Jetstream winds of that speed and higher are quite common.

A Balloon once flew around the world using them: NOVA Online | Balloon Race Around The World | Branson

BRANSON: Well, I think the first thing that we learned before we did our Atlantic crossing—everybody said it would be impossible for a balloon to fly in the jet stream—that these enormous winds, these winds that go up to about 300 miles an hour that travel in the jet stream, ... The jet stream is a very strong force and pushing a balloon into it is like pushing up against a brick wall, but once we got into it, we found that, remarkably, the balloon went whatever speed the wind went. And actually, I think our average speed across the Pacific was about 175 miles an hour, which is quite phenomenal.

 

[Quickstatus]

in January I did an F in QF12

Not one drop of the 2carbon variety.

(ethanol is a molecule with a 2 carbon atom backbone)

Now thats restraint!